New Norfolk Distillery's Tarrant Derksen earns Master Rummelier title

New Norfolk Distillery’s Tarrant Derksen has officially earned the title of Master Rummelier, becoming the first person in Tasmania and the second in Australia to gain the certification.

Tarrant completed base-level Rummelier Certification in 2023, studying for 6 months before enrolling in advanced classes for Master Rummelier certification from 2024 to 2026.

Master Rummelier classes included 7 study sections: the history of rum, how rum is made, rum terms, rum classification, rum tasting basics, communicating rum characteristics, and rum trivia.

To complete certification, Tarrant also had to taste a minimum of 100 rums and tour a minimum of 10 rum distilleries on top of completing all the advanced classes.

The distillery was also recognised on the world stage last year.

Three New Norfolk Distillery Rum varieties were awarded the world's best in 2025: Best traditional spiced rum for Near Horizon, Best sugarcane spirit rum for Drone Riot and Best Contemporary and Botanical rum for Furiosa.

Mr Derksen said he has a passion for rum distilling.

"Rum can be so different and vast,” he said.

“In Australia, it needs to be aged for two years, similar to whiskey and brandy, to be classed as rum, whereas around the world it can be made and classed as rum in a couple of weeks along with other added ingredients aged in wooden barrels of different varieties from different places around the world also gives rum it's diverse character and flavour.

"New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley is a beautiful area, and the climate, clean water and wild yeast allow an environment to create beautiful rum unique to Tasmania.”